Wealden Planning Councillors have today (Thursday) refused a development on the site of the Blackbrooks Garden Centre.
45 homes were proposed for the land off of the A22 at Lower Dicker, 35% of which would have been affordable housing.
However, Councillors at the Wealden District Council Planning meeting voted against the plans which they say falls outside of the local plan boundary and is badly situated due to the lack of local shops, services and transport links.
Councillor Bob Bowdler said during the meeting: “The proposed site means all residents are almost forced to use their cars for each journey due the poor footpaths and cycle routes. We have a duty of care to our residents and this development would put them at risk.”
The plans suggested a £75,000 fund to support extra bus services would be made, but this was only based on three years. Future funding for bus services would fall on the local authority.
Two local residents to the proposed site spoke about their objections to the plans at the meeting. One stating he had ‘seen many deaths and serious crashes’ on the road and stated a car had collided with his home, causing him to move out for seven months and cost £55,000 to repair, causing a great deal of distress.
Another resident said other developers will be watching this application closely, and if it was approved, it would open the ‘floodgates’ to many other applications.
Councillor Neil Cleaver proposed the plans to be refused based on a long list of concerns, which was carried by a total of ten votes.
